At his meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in Brussels, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet confirmed Estonia’s ongoing support for the Middle East peace process. They also discussed developments in the Middle East in general and Estonia-Israel relations. While in Brussels, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet also signed an agreement for the exchange and protection of classified information between Estonia and Luxembourg.

While talking about the Middle East peace process, Foreign Minister Paet said that Israel and the Palestinian Authority should try to continue the direct negotiations. “This is the only option that will increase the chances of resolving the conflict. One-sided steps are not helping,” he added.

Other topics of discussion were the situations in Syria and Egypt. “We hope that Egypt’s new leadership will choose a path of greater transparency and involvement and adhere to the Israel-Egypt peace treaty,” said Paet.

In terms of Syria, there are concerns over the possible use of chemical weapons there. The Estonian foreign minister said that it is necessary to end all armed activities in Syria, otherwise any kind of political process is not plausible. The Estonian and Israeli foreign ministers expressed regret over the international community’s inability to end the violence in Syria.

In Brussels Foreign Minister Urmas Paet also signed an agreement for the exchange and protection of classified information between Estonia and Luxembourg. “The need to exchange and protect classified information goes hand-in-hand with national defence and security co-operation,” said Paet. “The agreement creates a legal basis for the exchange of classified information between Estonia and Luxembourg and also defines the procedures for protecting said information,” he explained. Estonia has concluded such agreements with 28 countries.